Who this is for

Adoption practitioners and managers (Voluntary Adoption Agencies, Regional Adoption Agencies, Local Authorities, and independent social workers), children’s social care services, children and family social workers, foster carers, kinship carers, and other professionals working with children and families.

Details

Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), developed by Dan Hughes, is an approach designed to support children who have experienced trauma within the family. It functions both as a therapeutic intervention—offering direct support to the child alongside their parent—and as a model for parenting.

DDP-informed parenting helps parents build strong emotional connections with their children, increasing their sense of safety and security. The model recognises that many traumatised children can fear emotional closeness and supports them to overcome these fears and begin to heal. At the heart of DDP is the attitude of PACE (playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy), which draws on the emotional regulation and reflective capacity of both therapists and parents, promoting greater security for the child and, within parenting, being combined with appropriate behavioural support.

Polly is amazing, very calm and very attentive listening skills . She delivered the training
beautifully. – Attendee 2026

This introductory session will explore the DDP model and its application in both therapeutic settings and parenting practice. It will introduce the neurobiological theories underpinning DDP, explore key principles of the model, and consider the concept of blocked care alongside the importance of carer wellbeing and resilience. The session will also support reflection on your own nervous system and examine the significant role that professionals play in offering co-regulation to families.

It was an incredible training. – Attendee 2026

Learning 0utcomes

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Understand the DDP model and its application as a therapy
• Understand the principles of DDP-informed parenting support
• Understand the usefulness of this model for adoptive parents and their children
• Consider examples of DDP in practice

About the Trainer

Polly Nugent

Polly qualified as a Clinical Psychologist in 2009. She then worked in Bristol’s looked after and adopted children specialist CAMHS team for 10 years, where she used DDP principles throughout her work. She has a broad range of experience in offering DDP to families with complex needs, has provided supervision to a range of professionals developing their DDP practice, and has delivered extensive training to both parents/carers and professionals.

Polly is now in private practice, offering therapy to families, supervision to professionals, as well as group work and training. Alongside her strong commitment to DDP and relational approaches to working with trauma, she also has a keen and developing interest in polyvagal theory and what it can offer in terms of wellbeing, resilience and regulation.

Instructions

A member of staff will be in touch with attendees one week prior to the event to share a pre-event delegate pack.

If you have any questions regarding this webinar, please contact us at [email protected]. We will aim to answer your query within two working days.

CVAA accept online payments only. In case you do not have instant access to your company card, we suggest using your personal card instead to book a training event and claim it back with your agency in your expenses. Requesting an invoice to pay for our standard practice events is not possible.

Who this is for

Adoption practitioners and managers (Voluntary Adoption Agencies, Regional Adoption Agencies, Local Authorities, and independent social workers), children’s social care services, children and family social workers, foster carers, kinship carers, designated teachers, and other professionals working with children and families.

Details

The impact of adoption is lifelong, and many adult adoptees experience difficulties accessing the right support at the right time. Although there has been increasing recognition in recent years of the importance of emotional and mental health support throughout adulthood, this remains an area that is still often overlooked within services. This session explores emotional well‑being through the perspectives of adult adoptees, drawing on lived experience alongside research and theory to highlight the importance of lifelong adoption support.

I would like to thank Danielle  for her interesting , informative presentations. Her passion for the area came across. – Attendee February 2026

The session will consider a range of mental health concerns that may present in adulthood, including complex PTSD, depression and anxiety, and more complex presentations that may sometimes be described using diagnostic labels such as “personality disorder”. It will also explore the impact of neurodiversity, particularly where neurodivergence is undiagnosed or identified later in life, and how this can interact with adoption experiences for older adult adoptees.

Really outstanding input from the presenters. – Attendee February 2026

Practitioners working in the adoption field are often supporting adults who present with significant emotional needs, and this webinar will support participants to enhance their understanding and confidence in responding helpfully in practice. The focus is on offering meaningful, emotionally informed support that is grounded in everyday professional interactions.

A practical thread runs throughout the session. Core relational skills such as active listening, empathy, validation and reflective responding will be revisited, alongside the introduction of a small number of accessible tools. These include basic formulation thinking, grounding techniques and breathing strategies, which can be used appropriately to support emotional regulation and engagement in day‑to‑day practice.

I loved the mix of lived experience, research and practical guidance. – Attendee February 2026

Learning outcomes

• Develop a clearer understanding of the lifelong emotional and mental health needs of adult adoptees.
• Increase confidence in recognising and responding to common mental health presentations and the impact of neurodiversity in adulthood.
• Clarify what meaningful, emotionally informed support looks like within everyday adoption practice.
• Apply practical, role‑appropriate relational skills and simple tools to support adult adoptees effectively.

About the Trainers

Dr Julie Elliott Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Director, Adoption UK

As Clinical Director Julie is responsible for the clinical and therapeutic delivery across Adoption UK and ensures that we have robust clinical governance around the therapeutic services we offer. She manages the Psychology and Therapy Hub (PATH) which deliver a range of therapeutic programmes. The team includes qualified and experienced psychologists and therapists, and experts by experience who deliver on the peer support components within PATH.

Julie is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with over 25 years’ experience of working within Children and Family services across the NHS, Social Care, Education and the Independent/Charity sectors. Following an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Moral Philosophy and Applied Ethics, she completed a PhD in Psychology, focussing on the effects of trauma in childhood. She then went on to complete her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Julie has previously managed Psychology and Psychological Therapy services within the NHS.

Dr Danielle Kerley PATH Clinical Psychologist, Adoption UK

Danielle is a Clinical Psychologist with a specialist interest in supporting individuals, couples and families impacted by traumatic experiences and childhood adversity. Her work with Adoption UK has involved supporting adult adoptees affected by historic adoptions (pre-1976). She also supports adoptive parents and caregivers, as well as children and young people, using a variety of therapeutic approaches. Danielle is passionate about ensuring everyone with experience of adoption receives the specialist, trauma-informed support they need.

Instructions

A member of staff will be in touch with attendees one week prior to the event to share a pre-event delegate pack.

If you have any questions regarding this webinar, please contact us at [email protected]. We will aim to answer your query within two working days.

CVAA accept online payments only. In case you do not have instant access to your company card, we suggest using your personal card instead to book a training event and claim it back with your agency in your expenses. Requesting an invoice to pay for our standard practice events is not possible.

Who this is for

Adoption practitioners and managers (Voluntary Adoption Agencies, Regional Adoption Agencies, Local Authorities, and independent social workers), children’s social care services, children and family social workers, foster carers, kinship carers, designated teachers, and other professionals working with children and families.

Details

This expert‑led, full‑day training explores Post Adoption Depression (PAD) and its relevance to adoption assessment, training, preparation and post‑placement support.

While postnatal depression is increasingly recognised in birth parents, research indicates that 10–32% of adopters experience PAD. Many adopters do not recognise what they are experiencing or understand why adoption — often long hoped for — can bring emotional distress alongside joy.

Really enjoyed it, Lynda is easy to listen to and appreciated the adoptive parent sharing – Attendee 2026

The training sets the context by exploring expectations of everyone involved in adoption, before introducing Post Placement Depression and the “blues”. Lived experience is central to the day, with interview material and case study work offering insight into the realities of early placement and transition.

Loved it – Attendee 2026

Led by Lynda Graham, who has over fifteen years’ experience specialising in this field, the session supports social workers to:

• recognise early signs and risk factors associated with PAD
• reflect on the early stages of placement and the social worker role
• strengthen psychological preparation for adoption and post‑placement support

The afternoon focuses on practical application, including developing tools to support identification and early intervention. The day concludes with consideration of support for prospective and adoptive parents, alongside practitioner wellbeing and self‑care.

Lynda was informative and experienced in this area. – Attendee 2026

Learning outcomes

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Understand Post Adoption Depression and how it may present before and after placement
• Recognise signs, vulnerabilities and risk factors during assessment and post‑placement visits
• Reflect on adopters’ lived experiences and the emotional impact of early placement
• Strengthen psychological preparation for adoption
• Use practical tools to support early identification and response to PAD
• Identify appropriate support for adopters and consider practitioner wellbeing

About the trainer

Lynda Graham

Lynda is a Senior Accredited Counsellor with National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society. After twenty-five years as a Social Worker and Senior Practitioner, Lynda set up a Private Counselling Practice. She has a particular interest in Post Placement Blues/Depression and has set up a Specialist Counselling and Support Service for prospective and new adoptive parents who are struggling following the placement of their child/children. Having researched this topic for her MSc in Counselling she also provides training to potential adoptive parents, Social Workers and other professionals.  Lynda is also a Counselling Supervisor and Trainer and Adoption Panel member with a local Health and Social Care Trust.

Instructions

A member of staff will be in touch with attendees one week prior to the event to share a pre-event delegate pack.

If you have any questions regarding this webinar, please contact us at [email protected]. We will aim to answer your query within two working days.

CVAA accept online payments only. In case you do not have instant access to your company card, we suggest using your personal card instead to book a training event and claim it back with your agency in your expenses. Requesting an invoice to pay for our standard practice events is not possible.

Who this is for

Adoption and fostering CEOs, directors, practitioners and managers (Voluntary Adoption Agencies, Regional Adoption Agencies, Local Authorities, and independent social workers), front of house staff, children’s social care services, children and family social workers and other professionals working with children and families.

Details

Complaints in adoption and fostering services may not happen as often, but when they do arise they can feel complex and challenging to manage. This expert-led training session will explore good practice in complaints handling, helping practitioners understand how to respond with clarity, confidence and professionalism. Developed in response to requests from members, the session will provide practical guidance on managing complaints appropriately while maintaining constructive relationships with families and stakeholders.

As a CEO of an adoption agency I worked with Barbara on a complex complaint which has been escalated to her as Chair of Trustees. Barbara treated the complaint with care and compassion and used polices, procedures and regulations to guide her analysis and this meant a fair outcome to the complainants and a clear one to the agency. – Satwinder Sandhu

The training is delivered by Barbara Hudson, an experienced social work consultant with many years of expertise supporting organisations through sensitive and complex cases.

Learning 0utcomes

• Be confident your complaints policy is fit for purpose
• Know how to respond proportionately and calmly
• Feel less isolated when complaints arise
• Have clearer routes for advice and peer support
• See complaints as a governance tool, not just a threat

About the trainer

Barbara Hudson

Barbara is an independent social work consultant based in Edinburgh. Her career in social work has included time as a hospital social worker in Norfolk, a children and families worker in Leeds and Service Manager for Adoption, Fostering and Residential Services in Bradford. Barbara’s belief in creating opportunities for children separated from their birth families, to join and grow up within adoptive or foster care inspired her to take up the post of Director of BAAF Adoption and Fostering Scotland. She was responsible for developing policy, devising and delivering training across Scotland and Northern Ireland and was part of a major review of adoption in Scotland. Currently Barbara works with a number of local authorities and with Scottish Adoption and the Dean and Cauvin Young People’s Trust, alongside her role as chairperson of Coram IAC.

Instructions

A member of staff will be in touch with attendees one week prior to the event to share a pre-event delegate pack.

If you have any questions regarding this webinar, please contact us at [email protected]. We will aim to answer your query within two working days.

CVAA accept online payments only. In case you do not have instant access to your company card, we suggest using your personal card instead to book a training event and claim it back with your agency in your expenses. Requesting an invoice to pay for our standard practice events is not possible.

Who this is for

Adoption practitioners and managers (Voluntary Adoption Agencies, Regional Adoption Agencies, Local Authorities, and independent social workers), Assessors, and Agency Panel advisors.

Details

This training session is designed to offer an advanced refresher on safeguarding principles and practice, while specifically applying them through the Adoption Lens. The course aims to significantly increase delegates’ awareness of the unique safeguarding considerations inherent in the adoption process, acknowledging that adoption itself is fundamentally a safeguarding measure. The assessment and monitoring that accompany adoption are also crucial safeguarding processes in their own right. We also know that adopters say that their experience of safeguarding processes is mostly negative and not informed with adoption expertise.

I found it really informative, and it really helped it being specific to adoption. I always find my safeguarding refresher tedious as it is never really linked to my work, and it often goes over the same things. – Attendee, 2025

The session will feature a presentation on key issues followed by valuable opportunities to discuss and share perspectives. Dedicated time for reflection will allow you to consider the material, and we will provide practical signposting to relevant resources. We will also delve into critical themes like: Why is this important? What is our experience? Impact on adopters; and the sensitive topic of When things go wrong, as well as current issues affecting young people who are adopted.

Looking at safeguarding through an adoption lens was brilliant. The issues spoken about are extremely relevant to families I’m working with. It has given me lots to reflect on how I work with families & also what we offer as an RAA & challenges faced. – Attendee, 2025

Learning 0utcomes

• Reinforce foundational knowledge of safeguarding principles
• Articulate and apply the concept that adoption is a primary safeguarding measure
• Demonstrate an increased awareness of the unique safeguarding challenges and requirements within the adoption landscape
• Analyse and discuss key adoption themes, including the impact on adopters and the considerations required when difficulties arise
• Critically reflect on your own practice and experience through the specific Adoption Lens.
• Identify and utilize relevant resources and support services via provided signposting

About the trainer

Satwinder Sandhu

Satwinder is a leader in the adoption sector, influencing national and international practice and policy. He is a qualified social worker with  thirty-years of work experience in adoption, fostering and children in public care. Satwinder is passionate about how adoption needs to modernise and focusing this evolution on the needs, and experiences, of adopted people.  Satwinder is a TEDx speaker and a member of numerous sector Boards, including the Rees Centre, University of Oxford.

Instructions

A member of staff will be in touch with attendees one week prior to the event to share a pre-event delegate pack.

If you have any questions regarding this webinar, please contact us at [email protected]. We will aim to answer your query within two working days.

CVAA accept online payments only. In case you do not have instant access to your company card, we suggest using your personal card instead to book a training event and claim it back with your agency in your expenses. Requesting an invoice to pay for our standard practice events is not possible.

Who this is for

Adoption practitioners and managers (Voluntary Adoption Agencies, Regional Adoption Agencies, Local Authorities, and independent social workers), children’s social care services, children and family social workers, foster carers, kinship carers, designated teachers, and other professionals working with children and families.

Details

TBC

Learning 0utcomes

TBC

About the trainer

TBC

Instructions

A member of staff will be in touch with attendees one week prior to the event to share a pre-event delegate pack.

If you have any questions regarding this webinar, please contact us at [email protected]. We will aim to answer your query within two working days.

CVAA accept online payments only. In case you do not have instant access to your company card, we suggest using your personal card instead to book a training event and claim it back with your agency in your expenses. Requesting an invoice to pay for our standard practice events is not possible.

By purchasing this training, you agree that recordings may be used for educational and promotional purposes. Participants will be blurred and anonymised.

Who this is for

Adoption practitioners and managers (Voluntary Adoption Agencies, Regional Adoption Agencies, Local Authorities, and independent social workers), children’s social care services, children and family social workers, foster carers, kinship carers, designated teachers, and other professionals working with children and families.

Details

This interactive expert-led training session is designed for professionals supporting families who may be approaching, or are currently experiencing, blocked care or compassion fatigue. The session offers a clear and reflective exploration of how these states arise, why they can affect both parents and professionals, and how we might respond to them with understanding and appropriate intervention.

I liked Lisa’s way of presenting the information, she was clear, calm and concise. She gave gentle guidance and encouragement. She is obviously very knowledgeable and experienced, however she gave space to listen to other practitioners in the room. – Attendee, 2025

Drawing on current research and practice experience, the course will consider the evolving language around this area—particularly the distinction often made between “compassion fatigue” in professionals and “blocked care” in adoptive parents and carers. Participants will be invited to reflect on the potential impact of such terminology, including how unconscious bias may shape the compassion we extend to different groups and influence the support we offer.

The facilitator, Lisa, was warm and encouraging and she made it a safe space for us all to chat and explore ideas and perspectives. – Attendee, 2025

Led by Lisa Biggs of Adoption Focus, the training will examine the factors that increase an individual’s vulnerability to blocked care, the physiological and neurological changes associated with it, and evidence-informed strategies to help parents and carers both prevent and move through these experiences. The session also acknowledges the emotional demands placed on professionals who support families during periods of significant strain or risk of disruption, offering space to consider how best to safeguard one’s own wellbeing while maintaining effective practice.

The session was delivered clearly and in away that was so connected to the work we do – it was practical. – Attendee, 2025

Learning 0utcomes

• Understand why blocked care / compassion fatigue occurs.
• Explore how blocked care / compassion fatigue presents in practice.
• Discuss strategies to support individuals who are in, or approaching, blocked care / compassion fatigue.
• Consider how professionals may be affected when supporting families experiencing blocked care / compassion fatigue, and identify ways to protect and sustain themselves.

About the trainer

Lisa Biggs

Lisa is a Training Officer and Post Adoption Support Worker at Adoption Focus. She joined Adoption Focus in 2022 and prior to that has 15 years’ experience of supporting vulnerable children and their families within educational settings. She is also an adoptive mother.

Instructions

A member of staff will be in touch with attendees one week prior to the event to share a pre-event delegate pack.

If you have any questions regarding this webinar, please contact us at [email protected]. We will aim to answer your query within two working days.

CVAA accept online payments only. In case you do not have instant access to your company card, we suggest using your personal card instead to book a training event and claim it back with your agency in your expenses. Requesting an invoice to pay for our standard practice events is not possible.

Who this is for

Adoption practitioners and managers (Voluntary Adoption Agencies, Regional Adoption Agencies, Local Authorities, and independent social workers), children’s social care services, children and family social workers, foster carers, kinship carers, and other professionals working with children and families.

Details

Supporting birth parents throughout the adoption journey requires sensitivity, honesty and a deep understanding of the profound loss many experience. This training offers practitioners a thoughtful and reflective space to explore the emotional, practical and relational challenges faced by birth families — both during the adoption process and in the period that follows.

The session led by Naomi Head, the lead for Scottish Adoption’s Bluebird project, will support participants to reflect on their own practice, consider the barriers birth families commonly encounter, and explore how support can be offered in ways that are compassionate, realistic and firmly rooted in what is best for the child, both in the short and longer term. It is designed for practitioners who want to deepen their understanding and approach this area of work with greater confidence and care.

We are very fortunate to be joined by Mandy, whose contribution makes this a particularly rare and valuable learning opportunity. Mandy brings both lived and professional experience, offering a perspective that is seldom available in training spaces of this kind. Over the past ten years working across the charity and third sector, she has focused on raising awareness of trauma, domestic abuse, cleft lip and palate, and the realities faced by lone parent families, families in crisis and birth parents.

By sharing her own story alongside professional insight, Mandy challenges assumptions and invites practitioners to think differently about adoption, fostering and birth parent experiences. Her input brings depth, honesty and humanity to the session, supporting more empathetic, informed and reflective approaches to practice.

Learning 0utcomes

• To gain ideas and guidance on how to work alongside birth parents and support them in a beneficial and effective manner
• To further the focus in your practice on birth parents and the role they can play with the adoption process and the importance of this for the child, the adopters and the birth parents themselves
• To gain a better first hand understanding of a birth parent’s experience of adoption
• To have a chance to reflect on our own personal practice and how this can be changed to improve our impact on families and their futures

About the Trainers

Naomi Head

Naomi has worked with Scottish Adoption and Fostering since 2015, as a Senior Practitioner in the Family Team. She brings over 20 years of experience as a social worker and has previously worked in a range of settings within the third sector, including with people affected by homelessness and addictions, children and families and independent assessment work.

Over the past 2 years, Naomi has also been Project Co-ordinator for Bluebird, the agency’s service for birth parents who have lost permanent care of a child, through adoption, fostering or kinship care.

Mandy Temple

Mandy brings both lived and professional experience, having previously worked with Scottish Adoption, the Cleft Lip and Palate Association, Muirhead Outreach Project and Fife Women’s Aid. She offers a unique and honest perspective on adoption and fostering. Over the past ten years in the charity and third sector, Mandy has worked to raise awareness of trauma, domestic abuse, cleft lip and palate, and the realities faced by lone parent families, families in crisis and birth parents. By sharing her story, she seeks to challenge perceptions and support more empathetic approaches.

Instructions

A member of staff will be in touch with attendees one week prior to the event to share a pre-event delegate pack.

If you have any questions regarding this webinar, please contact us at [email protected]. We will aim to answer your query within two working days.

CVAA accept online payments only. In case you do not have instant access to your company card, we suggest using your personal card instead to book a training event and claim it back with your agency in your expenses. Requesting an invoice to pay for our standard practice events is not possible.